hello, i'm wolf blitzer reporting from jerusalem. i'd like to welcome our viewers from the united states and around the world. rocket fire and air strikes rattled israel and gaza today during what was supposed to be a brief cease-fire. what happens now? and what will it take to end the fighting? here are the latest developments. >> just over here. this building just over here.

which has just been hit. >> explosions rocked gaza even before the cease-fire exploded an hour ago. our correspondent john vause had to duck for cover. israel says the four-hour humanitarian window as they called it to allow civilians to get supplies and move to safer locations clearly did not work. the palestinian health ministry says 20 people were killed when a united nations school was hit earlier today. the israeli military says its soldiers fired after militants in that area opened fire on them. and a new poll finds more than 86% of jewish israelis are opposed to the cease-fire. that according to "the jerusalem post." they don't want a truce now because hamas is still firing rockets and israel has not located all the hamas tunnels. we want to get all the latest on the ground. our koescorrespondent john vaus. we saw what happened a little while ago. that huge explosion right behind you. you were on the air live, on cnn

international, when that occurred. what first of all is the situation right now like? >> well, wolf, there's been the constant sound of israeli tank and artillery fire coming from the south. that really hasn't let up since this humanitarian cease-fire collapsed, if you like. we had a fairly quick succession of air strikes about 2 1/2 hours into that 4-hour long window. since then it seems air operations at least where we are have eased up a little. we're now learning a little bit more about one of those air strikes that israel carried out. it happened in the shashaia marketplace and what we're being told by officials in gaza is 17 people were killed there, including one reporter and about 200 other people were wounded. some graphic scenes down there of the wounded. as they were rushed off to shifa hospital. this has been a grim day before that cease-fire went into place,

humanitarian window. >> i saw some of that video. it really is heart wrenching to see what's going on in gaza. do we know which side first initially violated that four-hour humanitarian pause as it was called? >> let aus just put this into context. this was a unilateral action taken by the israelis. hamas never accepted it. there was a hamas spokesperson would appeared on television and he said this is a media stunt, hamas does not accept this. they said later on, a much longer statement, saying this was just a chance for israel to reposition its troops and hamas wasn't prepared to accept any pause in the fighting and they weren't. they fired off 26 rockets in that 2 1/2 hour period. we saw those rockets being fired from here. so for hamas, this was never a cease-fire. the israelis did warn they were

stop their offensive if hamas held its fire. hamas didn't hold its fire. so israel responded, wolf. >> as you know, the palestinians say israeli forces shelled the united states school today in gaza. not all that far away from where you are, killing, what, about 20 people in that school. israel says its soldiers were simply responding to sniper fire or attacks coming against them. what do we know as far as what was going on? >> this, again, another incident being investigated by the israelis. we've heard those preliminary results from the idf investigation saying that their troops were, in fact, operating in that vicinity, the jabaliya refugee camp. they returned fire. we spoke to u.n. officials here in gaza. they have absolutely no doubt that school came under attack from israeli fire. this is part of what that u.n.

official had to say. >> what i'm able to say at this stage based on the initial elements is we have clear indications in the first assessment that we have that three projectiles hit the school and on presenting and analyzing the pieces of shrapnel, we believe we have all the elements in place to conclude that it was israeli artillery. >> they say this happened about 4:30 in the morning and the u.n. has told us, theme told a lot of people, they did give the idf the coordinates for that school not once, not twice, but 17 times. >> let me just ask a personal question. are you okay? because it was a pretty alarming -- when we saw what happened to you a little while ago. >> yeah, it was a little close. it's been close before.

i'm pretty sure it will be close again. the idf apparently knows where we are. we're hoping we won't be in the firing line. we're hoping for a quiet night here like everybody else in gaza. >> the last few nights have not been quiet at all. it's now three weeks plus into this war going on. i suspect it won't be very quiet where you are. john, thanks develop. john vause on the scene for us in gaza. meanwhile, some shocking video surfaced that purports to show hamas fighter using a tunnel to attack israeli troops. at least five israeli soldiers were killed. our martin savidge has the disturbing details. >> reporter: there was no way that cnn can authenticate the hamas video. for instance, hamas shows this video, claims it show s an attak on israeli soldiers. israel confirms there was an attack. israel says five of its soldiers

were killed in the attack. hamas says it actually killed ten. the issue of tunnels has become more of a justification for the ongoing military operation by israel in gaza than even the threat of rockets. the rocket threat has pretty much been knocked down as a result of the success of iron dome. but the idea of tunnels, in other words, the concept a terrorist could pop up in an israeli home, that really scares people here. whether it's real or not. so many israelis are very heavily backing the ongoing conflict. over 80% of israelis still support what is happening inside of gaza. israel has released video of its own, showing leaflets being dropped on gaza. it says it is doing all it can to limit the number of civilian casualties it the leaflets to warn people to either stay indoors or evacuate a neighborhood. israel says it uses robo calls, text message, even something called a roof knock, a nonlethal

explosive device that warns a person in the house the next one really will be real. israel is well aware of the amount of criticism being launched against this country. because of the high number of civilians that have been killed in the ongoing conflict. but israel is also sending a clear message to its enemies. that is, if those enemies think they can attack israel and hide behind a civilian population to do it, israel is essentially saying they better think again. martin savidge, cnn, jerusalem. >> let's go to southern israel. not very far away from the gaza border. our own sara sidner on the scene for us. what's happening where you are? >> we are in ashkelon, a place you know well. we're hearing very strong booms, just going fire from israel. the windows rattling from that. that has been going on throughout much of the day. we are right on the border with gaza not too long ago. just after the cease-fire, we

should mention, we saw what was a mortar that came over from gaza. we also then heard the artillery firing again and again from israel, the border into gaza. i want to note something. we've been hearing there was a briefing from the commander of israeli forces, of the southern command. basically saying that they feel that they are getting very close to completing their mission. interesting thing to hear at this hour. what does that mean? we don't know. but coming close to completing a mission may indicate what is going to be happening in the next few days, possibly a week, with this particular task that israel has set out for itself to try and rid all of gaza of all these tunnels that they say are heading towards israel or have already made it into israel. i also, just to note, here wolf, spoke with the -- one of the former heads of mossad, and he

told me in his opinion, this is his opinion alone but, remember, he is the former head of the mossad. everybody knows israel's intelligence agency. saying he doesn't see this going beyond a week. he says he believes it may lack less than a week. giving you an analysis of how long this pounding that gaza is taking is going to go on, at least the mission that they set forth for themselves, which is to knock out all of the tunnels. again, another big barrow to ensou ensound, baritone sound coming in. wolf. >> have there been rockets coming in where you are in southern israel? have you heard the sirens going off? have you heard the booms from that iron dome anti-missile system? >> we have. we have not heard sirens where we are along the part of the border we have been. we certainly know that they have

gone off in other parts of israel. we know that during the cease-fire, there's at least 26 rockets. israel says came out of the border. there's upset, saying this is how hamas tweeted the humanitarian cease-fire for gaza who have been suffering the great amount of casualties here. frustration, as you might imagine, on the israeli side. fear and death happening far too often on the gaza side. fear here, as you know, with the sirens going off and the possibility of a missile coming at you, people having, you know, 60 seconds to find a safe place, there's definitely a heightened sense of fear. also, there is a great deal -- the number of israeli jews who are really standing behind this offensive is up to 90%. saying they want this to go all

the way and finally get rid of hamas. wolf. >> sara sidner, thank you very much. reporting potentially major piece of news. saying they're getting close to completing their military mission in gaza. we'll get some more details what that might mean for a cease-fire as well. we'll stay in touch with sarah, with john vause in gaza. when we come back, we'll get the palestinian perspective. the palestinian representative to the united states, mein erakat, he'll join us live. stay with us. i love my contractor, and i am so thankful to angie's list for bringing us together. find out why more than two million members count on angie's list. angie's list -- reviews you can trust. honey, look i got one to land. uh-huh. (vo) there's good more...

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now to the palestinian representati representative, joining us on the phone from washington right now. i don't know if you heard the news, it sounds pretty significant. the head of the israeli military southern command in charge of the ground operation down there i think more than just the ground operation, says it looks like the israeli military has almost completed its mission. that would sound as if they're getting ready for a cease-fire. what can you update us with? >> i think they're trying to indicate they have completed their mission. we welcome any news, any progress for a cease-fire. i think the fact that undoubtedly israel has shown the entire world the people who are being killed are civilians and

children. other eid, the three day of our holy feast, israel killed 370 civilians, an average 120 every day. this war has no clear objectives. >> it sounds to me like the general in charge of this operation down in the southern part of israel in gaza, what he's suggesting, at least my impression, he's suggesting they've located, they've destroyed the tunnels and they've destroyed a big chunk of the hamas infrastructure, military infrastructure, as far as those rockets and missiles are concerned. what are you hearing about that? >> it's difficult to assess. i know that almost 1,400 palestinians have lost their

live lives, mostly civilians. i know they're targeting schools, radio stations, hospitals, electric grid there. this is a war against civilian targets. there is always a price for that war. the attention has been over last two days on --- everybody seems to understand the palestinians are facing the most sophisticated weapons that israel possesses. f-16s, tanks. what else do you expect the palestinians to do? they have to defend themselves against this complain against them. we should really focus the issue on reaching that immediate cease-fire to stop the blood shed, engage the parties to reach a longtime political solution. that must include israel's

lifting of that blockade against the gaza strip. >> where does it stand right now, based on everything you're hearing? i know the president of the palestinian authority, mahmoud abbas, and others are involved, working with egypt, the united states, qatar, turkey. where does that stand in terms of getting a cease-fire, maybe even for a few hours or a day or two days? any progress at all as far as you know? >> i think the major disagreement right now is i don't know if there's been a shift in the israeli position based on the united states and other parties. the israelis are insisting to continue their operations inside the gaza strip, even if palestinian factions agree to a period of a truce to allow for political negotiations to take place. my understanding, this is a major stumbling block right now.

israel wants to have a free hand to continue to operate and expect the palestinians not to respond or retaliate. once israel receives proof of the cease-fire, i think the palestinian delegation is prepared and ready to go to cairo to have talks with the egyptians who will also have talks with the israeli delegation to consolidate that proof, that truce into a permanent cease-fire and make sure this carnage is not repeated by israelis in the future. >> one final question, assuming the palestinian authority, president mahmoud abbas, he agrees, and the political wing, the leadership of -- the political leadership of hamas, khaled meshaal in doha, qatar, they agree, will the military

wing of hamas also agree? yesterday, it seemed to be a bit confusing, it is military wing of hamas rejecting. but it looked like the palestinian factions have all agreed to. >> well, i don't -- you know, i'm not very fully aware of the internal -- mr. hamaback but i think they were trying to tell you what they told you earlier. unless there's a cease-fire completely, that the palestinians will be compelled to retaliate to any israeli attacks. the political leadership of h ham hamas, in my view, still, in control of the situation. they are all awaiting for this period to be agreed upon. to form the delegation to go to cairo. they are ready and prefer to

join these efforts as soon as they take place in cairo. we hope this will materialize in the next couple of days. hopefully sooner because we want to see this stop of the bloodshed. enough for aggression and let's sit and talk and try to resolve this issue politically. there's no military solution to this problem. >> mein arekat, thank you for joining us. a cease-fire here that was supposed to take effect in the middle east didn't take effect very long. it was broken by explosions. we're going to get reaction to ways going on. stay with us.

to clarify wahat the commander of the military command said to reporters in a briefing that just occurred. he said to his estimate, this is general tersman, he said the israeli military is just a few days away from completing its mission in gaza. as well as the tunnels that israel has discovered since beginning this operation. that's general tami tersamen. we spoke just before that four-hour cease-fire was supposed to go into effect. he had plenty to say about

what's going on between israel and hamas. president obama's deputy national security adviser. thanks very much for joining us. the secretary of state, as you know, think he's on his way to india right now. is the u.s. leadership trying to get a cease-fire, is that over with at least for now? >> we continue our discussions with israelis and palestinians and countries within the region. obviously, we're in a difficult time. we're very concerned about reports that you have these weapons being hid in schools. just as we're also very concerned about this civilian loss of life among the palestinians. all of that points to us, to the need for a cease-fire, a short-term cease-fire, to be put in place, so we can address the broader issues we see at stake in gaza. >> i don't know if you saw it, one of the israeli television channels published, put on the air, what they said was a

transcript a rather testy phone conversation president obama had the other night with prime minister netanyahu. i saw the translation of that. it looked pretty blunt. was that accurate? >> i've seen a lot of crazy things the last six years in this job. that was one of the craziest. that quote/unquote transcript bore no resemblance to the call the two leaders had. they had a candid exchange about the situation in gaza. they talked strategy. about how to pursue a cease-fire. about israel's need to defend itself. to take care to avoid civilian casualties. that was a totally made up transcript you saw appear in the israeli media. we were able to correct the record and so were the israelis who also made clear that was not at all a transcript of the call. >> the spokesman for the prime minister also denied that was the transcript. it's getting a lot of momentum. a lot of publicity. a lot of buzz here in israel. what can be done right now? i know there's an immediate crisis. it's awful what's going on in ga gaza. but there seems to be a little

tension developing between two close allies, namely the united states and israel. what needs to be done to fix that? >> we, wolf, again, i think on the basics, on the fundamentals, there's not any distance. the united states has provided enormous support for israel's security. you have seen there in israel the effect, for instance, that the iron dome system has had, which the united states helped develop and fund, in saving israeli lives from these rockets. we've also focused on diplomacy on trying to bring about this cease-fire. we believe that's the way to stop the rocket fire into israel. we believe that israel can still deal with these tunnels as it pursues a cease-fire. we believe that a discussion about a long-term fix to some of the challenges that we see in gaza, including hamas's stockpile of weapons, that would be in the interest of israel's security. we're going to continue to send that message to israel privately, publicly. again, i think the fundamentals the relationship between the

united states and israel allows for discussion and sometimes debate about tactics. >> the islt'sraelis say, we hea this just a little while ago, if you go back to that original egyptian sponsored cease-fire, israel will accept it right away without any conditions. what they didn't like, clearly, some of the add-ons that were put forward in subsequent conversations. is that original egyptian proposal still on the table? >> the egyptians have been in the lead for cease-fire negotiations. their proposal has been the basis for everything that's followed. there's been discussions with israel, with egypt, with the palestinian authority, with some other cubs in the region, but it's on the basis of that egyptian proposal. what we said is if we get these short-term cease-fires in place to provide for a humanitarian pause october ground, that parties can convene in cairo for those discussions, again, with the egyptians in the lead, in helping to bring people

together, in pursuit of a more lasting cease-fire solution. again, that is a proposal we continue to work with. that's been the basis of a lot of our discussions with israel. >> that was the president's deputy national security adviser speaking with me on cnn's "new day" earlier today. three weeks of hell in gaza. what triggered the latest crisis between israel and hamas. we're going to see how it all unfolded. stay with us. this is bill. his doubleheader day at the park starts with back pain... and a choice. take 4 advil in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. peanuts! peanuts! crowd cheers!

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welcome back to ou veers in the united states and around the world. i'm wolf blitzer reporting from jerusalem. it was supposed to be a four-hour humanitarian cease-fire but explosions rocked gaza, rockets were fired at israel even before the cease-fire ended. israel says the humanitarian window was put in place so civilians could get supplies moved to safer locations. they blame hamas for breaking that cease-fire. the palestinian health ministry says 20 minute were killed when the united nations school was hit today before that cease-fire was supposed to go into effect. the israeli military says its soldiers fired after militants in that area opened fire on them. the fighting rages on. the death toll rising. three more israeli soldiers were killed today. in all, 56 soldier, israeli soldiers, 3 civilians on the israeli size were also, were also killed.

more than 1,300 palestinian, mostly civilians, but some hamas militants to be sure have also been killed according to palestinian health ministry sources. what started with the deaths of three israeli teens has now escalated into full-blown war between israel and hamas it the current con flick between these two clearly is the longest. the 2012 conflict lasted eight days. the 2008 conflict went on for 28 days. joining us is our guest from the brookings insuran s institution. what do you think is going to happen in the immediate period ahead? looks like israel is making progress in destroying hamas tunnels. whole situation looks awfully murky. >> you're correct to use that term of war. this is no longer a limited operation. many of the previous skirmishes

or battles or even lethal struggles in the middle east between israel and hamas or even hezbollah had a limited character to them. as you well know, why you're in israel still, is different. it really is more like combat. something, i'm really struck, i know you're studying this and are reporting on it daily, by the incredible support for this operation among the israeli public. being, israelis are not known for their, you know, congeniality on all issues political. they sometimes make our debates here in the united states look gentle. for them to be 80% to 90% supportive of this kind of an operation really shows how much hamas has put the fear of god in them and left no doubt in israeli minds that hamas really does reject their right to exist. and that any kind of softening of that position really means nothing at this point. >> yes, that "jerusalem post" poll you're referring to showed 80%, 85% of jewish israelis

support what prime minister benjamin netanyahu's operation is about. i spoke with one of the opposition leaders last night, ahmed shiad. and he says even though he's in the opposition, he supports what's going on as well. egypt played a very significant role back in november 2012, the muslim brother head-led government there in egypt, in getting a cease-fire between hamas and israel. very different government of president el sisi in egypt right now. no great love, as you know, for the muslim brotherhood. they basically arrested their leadership, inclauuding preside mohamed morsi. can egypt do the job now, given the strained relationship it has with hamas, which it seems, as some have pointed out, it sees as maybe a cousin of the muslim brotherhood? >> everything's been in so much flux in the middle east since the arab spring, so-called, began 3 1/2 years ago that you can persuade yourself of almost

anything. it's important for israel not to believe that egypt is just going to be its friend forever. and that it will be able to get away with whatever level of tolerance or support from the arab world that it needs. at some point, the need for a two-state solution and the diplomatic track to get back to it is going to be crucial. in the short term, i don't know how to predict anything in the middle east. everything seems up for grabs. the minute you can foresee what's going to happen, some other big shock arrives. i'm not going to say whether egypt can seal the short-term deal. but egypt will not be able to seal any long-term deal unless there is a path towards a two-state solution. >> yeah, as our friend aaron david miller often says, referring to the situation here in the middle east, it's going to get worst, he says, before it gets worst. michael o'hanlon, brookings, thank you. just ahead, a closer look at the humanitarian side of this conflict. how are the people in gaza actually coping with the air strikes, the fighting? we'll be right back. ugh. heartburn.

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just over here. this building just over here which has just been hit. >> all right, so that was our john vause a little while ago. he's in gaza. he's doing a live shot for cnn international. you saw what happened. ian lee is here. just got out of gaza about 24 hours or so ago. you've been there three weeks. what was it really like there? take us inside gaza, israeli air strikes, naval strikes, ground activity. you're in the middle of this big city, gaza city, packed with people. give us a little flavor of what it was like to do some reporting there. >> i think the one thing that comes to mind is the uncertainty of the situation. you are in a fluid environment. it is a war zone. and so at any moment you could come under fire. and we saw john vause, what happened with him, a close air

strike. you always had those moments where you didn't know if there was going to be anything close nearby, whether it was an air strike or whether it was a rocket going off. and i have been to other conflict zones. at night, you go away from front line. well, really, in gaza, everyone's the front line. there really isn't any safe place. that's the one thing that i felt. i think a lot of people definitely the civilians feel there too, is there really isn't that sense of security that is enjoyable to have. >> even if you're wearing a flak jacket, a helmet? we see these pictures coming out of ga za. it's horrible what's going on with the kids, the women, the eld elderly. what is it like to see this up close? >> that's the one thing you have to prepare for. especially after that u.n. school was struck in beit hanoun, we were at the hospital, and when you see children being hit, especially in the morgue,

it does very much affect you, and it's something that no one likes to see. that's the one tragedy of this war, about 20% of the casualties are children. and you see their families there crying. it is very difficult to see and witness. >> how do you cope? you're a professional journalist. it's not easy. you're also a human being. >> you know, it's the one thing that a lot of journalists ask themselves, is how do you cope after seeing this? a lot of journalists have different things to do. a lot of people like to take breaks after such assignments. that is one thing i will be doing is taking a break after this. these are image, you can't get out of your head. images you really don't want to leave your head. because it gipps you that human aspect to every story you report on. >> i'm glad you're out safe and sound. take some time off, relax. i know you're heading back to cairo. we'll stay in very close touch with you. our man in cairo the last few weeks in gaza, not an easy assignment for a journalist.

what's going on there, clearly, clearly, painful, awful. we'll get back ton the news here, including some breaking news. we're just learning israel now asking the u.s. for some resupply ammunition. we'll go to the pentagon. barbara starr has new information, information you need to know, right after the break. what if a photo were more than a memory? what if it were more than something to share? what if a photo could build that shelf you've always wanted? or fix a leaky faucet? or even give you your saturday back? the new snapfix app revolutionizes local service. just snap a photo and angie's list coordinates a top-rated provider to do the work on your schedule. the app makes it easy. the power of angie's list makes it work. download snapfix for free. sea captain: there's a narratorstorm cominhe storm narrator: that whipped through the turbine which poured... surplus energy into the plant which generously lowered its price

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she has come breaking news on the u.s. resupply effort of some ammunition to israel in the midst of this war going on. what are you learning, barbara? >> hello, wolf. we have learned here at the pentagon that the israelis have made a major request for a resupply of their ammunition stock piles and the obama administration has agreed to it. details are scarce, but officials are telling me right now there are two categories of ammuniti ammunition. they are resupplying the israelis with very quickly. that is 120 millimeter ammunition from mortars and 40 millimeter ammunition for grenade launchers. there are additional requests from the israelis for a number of other categories of ammunition being used in these current operations. that -- those requests will be made and will be carried out and fulfilled by u.s. defense manufacturers. but the two that i mentioned, the 120 millimeter and the 40 millimeter, those are actually going to come very quickly out

of u.s. militant stockpiles already in israel. the u.s. maintains about $1.2 billion worth of ammunition and weapons in israel and in a crisis, the israelis are allowed to ask to use it. this ammunition, they contend is not a crisis. they say it was running out of shelf life. the israelis wanted a resupply, and so they're resupplying it from that stockpile very quickly. but what is clear, one official said, in the last three weeks, the israelis certainly have used up a good deal of their ammunition stock piles, so now coming to the u.s. for a resupply. the u.s. insists, it's not an emergency, they are calling it a resupply. but the administration moving very quickly indeed to get these requests fulfilled and get that ammunition on its way to israel. the u.s. contention, of course, this is part of the u.s. commitment to the defense of israel, still likely controversial. wolf?

>> a lot of people don't know about that stockpile of u.s. weapons. militant equipment in israel for an emergency situation. been going on i think since the 1973 war when there was an emergency airlift of militant resupplies to israel. shortly thereafter, the u.s. decided, just keep the equipment, the munitions stockpile in israel under u.s. control and emergency. you don't need an airlift. just have the weapons and the munitions. the ammunition and everything in place. barbara, thanks very much for that report. barbara starr with the breaking news from the pentagon, u.s., saying yes to israel as it seeks to resupply some munitions. just ahead, disturbing word of a new threat to the international crash investigators in ukraine. their land mines on the road to the crash site. we're going to tell you what our cnn crew found. ♪

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now to reports of a disturbing new twist in heavy fighting in eastern ukraine. the country's national security and defense counsel sill claims pro russian rebels have laid mines on the access road to the crash of malaysian airlines flight 17. cnn could not independently confirm that statement, but our nick paton walsh did make it to and from the crash site safely. he's joining us from donetsk, eastern ukraine. so nick, what happened, the monitors from the osce, they

have basically been not able to go to the crash site and see what's going on. tell us the latest. >> reporter: that's the case for the last four days. they have tried the first two days, the inspectors joined with the osce monitors, trying to negotiate their access. first they go together, turn back, hearing shelling and the osce monitors themselves on a different route. we went to the north, saw en route heavy shelling, clear, back smoke in many different positions in the horizon around that crash site. it's a complex route. so for a convoy of 10 to 30, some armored vehicles, so much international attention moving between such a volatile area, like the international inspectors, it's much tougher than us, one small car moving through the countryside there. when we got there, though, no signs of separatists or inspectors or the ukrainian militant, at all to that

particular area. but the scene itself, terrifyingly quiet. governmentally the stench of decay in the air, clearly still human remains in the area of the site. the cockpit flight pan there, the pilot's own bag. that had what must have been shrapnel holes in it. and a real strange sense of an abandoned crime scene, wolf. >> did you see any evidence, nick, of actually land mines or anything indicating there could potentially be land mines in that area? >> reporter: a lot of people in that area warn you of mines here or there, it's hard to see, really, quite whether the separatists themselves have had the time to lay that many mines. there are very few of them, under a lot of pressure at this moment. the statement from the ukrainian security council talks about firing positions, minls in the area around it. it's a huge area. 14 square kilometers. as you drive along, you see a piece of wreckage along lengthy

roads. so naturally, given there is a civil war raging there and the militants are trying to defend part of the areas around the crash site and the towns around it, too, of course they're digging in firing positions and perhaps laying minls, as well. the suggestion from the ukrainian government is somehow the site is inaccessible because they have purposely rendered it. we didn't see that ourselves. the militants didn't let us through, concerned about us filming. but more or less open to us accessing the site. but at the site, no sight of it being secured, tape blowing in the wind. bizarrely, the strong smell of jet fuel in the area where one of the jets and landing gear have come down. people have left teddy bears, flowers, to mourn people they never knew by locals. and just that terrifying feeling of the war constantly moving around this area and the silence there just hard to really describe. wolf? >> another one of our courageous cnn war correspondents, nick payton walsh, doing some

dangerous work for us. nick, be careful over there. thanks very much. that's it for me. thanks very much for watching. i'll be back 5:00 p.m. eastern in a special two-hour edition of "the situation room." for our international viewers, amanpour is next. for the viewers in the united states and north america, "newsroom" with brooke baldwin starts right now. all right, wolf blitzer, thank you so much. great to be with you all on this wednesday. i'm brooke baldwin. let's get to some news here at cnn. cnn just learned the united states has agreed to resupply israel's military with multiple types of ammunition. what types of ammunition, why specifically. let's go to the pentagon to our correspondent, barbara starr, who has this reporting. tell me what exactly this resupplying of the israeli defense forces really means, barbara. >> hi, brooke. u.s. officials are telling me, they have agreed to resupply israel with ammunition at its request. now, clearly, this is part of the u.s. comen